Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

At Esher Church School, we believe that every child is uniquely created and valued. Guided by our Christian vision, “Love One Another” (John 13:34), we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all children feel welcomed, supported and able to flourish.

We recognise that children learn in different ways and that some children may need additional support to help them achieve their potential. Our aim is to identify needs early, work closely with families and provide the right support at the right time so that every child can thrive both academically and personally.

What is SEND?

A child or young person aged 0-25 has Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) if they have:

• A learning difficulty or disability that makes learning significantly more difficult than for others of the same age; and/or
• A disability that requires special educational provision to be made for them.

Children with SEND may need additional support, adaptations, specialist strategies or targeted interventions to help them access learning and participate fully in school life.

The Four Areas of Need

The SEND Code of Practice identifies four broad areas of need:

Communication and Interaction

Children may experience difficulties with communication, understanding language, interacting with others, speech development or social communication.

Cognition and Learning

Children may find aspects of learning more challenging and may require additional support with literacy, numeracy, memory, processing or understanding new concepts.

Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)

Children may experience difficulties managing emotions, developing relationships, regulating behaviour, coping with anxiety or maintaining emotional wellbeing.

Sensory and/or Physical Needs

Children may have hearing, visual, physical or sensory processing needs that impact their learning and participation in school.

Many children will have needs that span more than one of these areas.

Our Graduated Response

At Esher Church School, we follow a graduated response to supporting children with SEND. This means support is carefully planned, reviewed and adapted according to a child’s individual needs.

1. Assess

We identify barriers to learning through:

• Classroom observations
• Assessment information
• Discussions with parents and carers
• Pupil voice
• Advice from external professionals where appropriate

2. Plan

School staff, parents and the SENDCo work together to agree:

• Desired outcomes
• Appropriate support and strategies
• Any interventions or adaptations required
• How progress will be monitored

3. Do

Support is implemented through:

• High-quality inclusive teaching
• Reasonable adjustments
• Targeted interventions
• Specialist resources and strategies
• Support from trained staff where needed

4. Review

Progress is reviewed regularly with:

• Teachers
• Parents and carers
• The child
• The SENDCo
• Other professionals where appropriate

The cycle then begins again, ensuring provision continually responds to the child’s changing needs.

Quality First Teaching

The foundation of our SEND provision is high-quality teaching for all pupils.

Our teachers adapt learning through:

• Clear explanations and modelling
• Visual supports and scaffolds
• Practical learning opportunities
• Flexible grouping
• Adaptive teaching approaches
• Sensory and regulation strategies
• Appropriate use of technology and resources

Many children make excellent progress through these adaptations alone.

Working in Partnership with Families

We recognise that parents and carers know their children best. We place great importance on working collaboratively with families and maintaining open communication throughout a child’s journey.

We will:

• Listen to your views and concerns
• Involve you in decision-making
• Share information about progress and support
• Work together to agree next steps

Specialist Support

Where additional support is required, we may seek advice from external professionals, including:

• Educational Psychology
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Specialist Teachers
• Inclusion and SEND Support Services
• Health and Wellbeing Services

For a small number of children with significant and complex needs, an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) may be appropriate.

Inclusion at Esher Church School

Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We want every child to:

• Feel safe, valued and respected
• Develop confidence and independence
• Achieve their potential
• Experience a sense of belonging
• Participate fully in school life

We celebrate diversity and strive to create an environment where every child is known, understood and supported to flourish.

Further Information

For more information, please see:

• SEND Policy
• SEND Information Report
• Inclusion Policy
• Accessibility Plan
• Surrey Local Offer

If you would like to discuss your child’s needs, please contact our SENDCo through the school office. We would be delighted to talk about how we can work together to support your child.